WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.599 All right, we are going to read together from Luke chapter 10. 00:00:08.599 --> 00:00:15.000 So if you have a Bible, please turn with me to Luke chapter 10. 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:19.480 And then we're going to read verses 26 to 37. 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:23.400 If you'd like to have a hard copy of the Bible, there's Bibles on the side and in the 00:00:23.400 --> 00:00:24.560 balcony as well. 00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:26.879 Feel free to get one of those at any time. 00:00:26.879 --> 00:00:34.679 Luke chapter 10 verses 26 to 37. 00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:38.719 And this is God's word. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.039 He said to him, What is written in the law? 00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:43.759 How do you read it? 00:00:43.759 --> 00:00:48.640 This is a lawyer standing up to put Christ to the test. 00:00:48.640 --> 00:00:49.640 What is written in the law? 00:00:49.640 --> 00:00:50.640 How do you read it? 00:00:50.640 --> 00:00:54.840 And he answered, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your 00:00:54.840 --> 00:01:00.240 soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.280 And he said to him, You have answered correctly. 00:01:03.280 --> 00:01:06.520 Jesus said, Do this and you will live. 00:01:06.520 --> 00:01:13.960 But he, the lawyer, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, And who is my neighbor? 00:01:13.960 --> 00:01:20.760 Jesus replied, A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among the robbers who 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:25.359 stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 00:01:25.359 --> 00:01:30.160 Now by chance a priest was going down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on 00:01:30.160 --> 00:01:31.160 the other side. 00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:36.480 So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:37.719 side. 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:44.240 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion. 00:01:44.240 --> 00:01:48.920 He went to him and he bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. 00:01:48.920 --> 00:01:54.560 Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an end and took care of him. 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:59.879 And the next day he took out two Denarii and he gave them to the innkeeper saying, Take 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:05.120 care of him and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:08.240 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:09.599 robbers? 00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:15.840 He said, The one who showed him mercy and Jesus said to him, You go and do likewise. 00:02:15.840 --> 00:02:17.599 This is God's word. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:25.400 Let's read again from God's word Matthew chapter five, the Beatitudes once more. 00:02:25.400 --> 00:02:26.959 This is the word of God. 00:02:26.959 --> 00:02:30.639 We read from the beginning of the chapter. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:36.840 Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain and when he sat down, his disciples came to 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:44.439 him and they opened his mouth and taught them, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is 00:02:44.439 --> 00:02:45.759 the kingdom of heaven. 00:02:45.759 --> 00:02:50.159 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:54.280 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 00:02:54.280 --> 00:03:01.000 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:05.359 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 00:03:05.359 --> 00:03:09.840 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:14.840 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:20.960 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:21.960 of heaven. 00:03:21.960 --> 00:03:22.960 Amen. 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:31.520 This is God's word and as always, it's our prayer that he would bless it to our hearts 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:37.960 and give us comfort and profit from it. 00:03:37.960 --> 00:03:44.800 David Sol, the rugby captain in Scotland's Grand Slam, willing team, was asked to play 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:53.040 in a charity golf match and on the very first tee, had a dreadful shot out of bounds. 00:03:53.040 --> 00:03:59.520 To cover his embarrassment, he said to the carry, golf's a funeo game, to which the taciturn 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:04.000 little glass-waging replied, it isn't he meant to be. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:12.400 Now, we all know folk who disagree, whether something is just a bit of fun or deadly serious, 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:19.360 whether something is a major priority in life or a very little consequence. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:25.759 But those of us who listened in these last Sunday evenings to preachers open up to us 00:04:25.759 --> 00:04:33.959 these Beatitudes cannot be in any doubt at all just how important for Christian men and 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:38.639 women these words of Jesus are. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:50.319 Because right at the outset of his most famous sermon, he sets out a balanced but varied 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:56.800 description of what Christian men and women ought to be. 00:04:56.800 --> 00:05:04.680 And it burrs repeating as it has been done that all eight of these characteristics are 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:09.439 to be exhibited by everyone who follows Christ. 00:05:09.439 --> 00:05:17.240 This is Jesus' description of the character of every citizen of God's kingdom. 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:24.639 And it's significant that Jesus begins a sermon on the mount with these words, with 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.639 the character of the Christian, with this emphasis. 00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:37.160 Before he comes to Christians, prayer life or relationships or ambitions, he talks about 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:39.240 the Christian's character. 00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:49.079 And he's emphasizing what a Christian is before he moves on to what a Christian does. 00:05:49.079 --> 00:05:54.720 And of course, if human beings were perfect, there'd be no need for this. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:06:02.400 You know, we would simply live from the inside out and our outward conduct and behavior would 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:08.800 simply be a reflection of our inner hearts and lives. 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:15.879 But with human nature being what it is, that is not the case and the symmetry between our 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:22.040 inner life and our outer conduct is not always easy to achieve. 00:06:22.040 --> 00:06:31.720 And the fact that Jesus' pattern is to emphasize being what we are before doing how we should 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:39.840 behave should be enough to warn us that our inner life with God, with Christ, must be 00:06:39.840 --> 00:06:46.280 right if our outer conduct is to be acceptable to Him. 00:06:46.280 --> 00:06:50.280 And Jesus only stressed this in the Beatitudes. 00:06:50.280 --> 00:06:58.720 You remember when he came across some religious folk who were just, just everything was appearance 00:06:58.720 --> 00:06:59.720 with them. 00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:03.800 And he said, look, you are like whitewashed sepulchres. 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:11.280 You have this nice outward appearance, but inwardly there is darkness. 00:07:11.280 --> 00:07:18.360 And also he comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount back to this emphasis and says 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:23.280 again, you know, on that day of judgment, he said, there will be many, many who will 00:07:23.280 --> 00:07:28.120 come and say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:33.160 Have we, you know, in your name, we've done, we've cast out demons. 00:07:33.160 --> 00:07:35.759 We've done many wonderful works. 00:07:35.759 --> 00:07:43.840 But Jesus said, I will say to them, I never knew you depart from me. 00:07:43.840 --> 00:07:54.920 So it's clear from his word that God judges us not so much by what we do as by our reasons 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:56.879 for doing it. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:03.439 And it's particularly important to understand this when we come to this fifth Beatitude, 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:11.519 blessed are the merciful, because it really has to do with how we treat other people, 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:13.639 how we treat everyone else. 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:22.519 And our difficulty is, and it has to be said, many, many Christians act as though their 00:08:22.519 --> 00:08:29.120 problem with God is their behavior, you know, they're doing wrong things, got to do right 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:34.759 things, behaving badly, got to start behaving well. 00:08:34.759 --> 00:08:44.559 And that is just absolutely wrong because, look, our outward behavior really flows from 00:08:44.559 --> 00:08:48.840 what's going on in our hearts inwardly. 00:08:48.840 --> 00:08:51.639 Bad behavior starts within. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:53.480 It comes from the heart. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:54.759 Jesus himself said that. 00:08:54.759 --> 00:09:01.279 Do you remember, it was preached on recently, you remember the religious leaders were giving 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:06.120 Jesus the sight, well, and Jesus himself a hard time because they were eating without 00:09:06.120 --> 00:09:10.720 the ritual washing of hands and they were getting all worked up about that. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:13.679 Jesus, look, you've got this wrong. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:22.120 It is from within, from out of the heart of man, perceived evil thoughts, adulteries, 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:25.439 fornications, murders. 00:09:25.439 --> 00:09:29.399 This is why our hearts need to be changed. 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:35.319 This is why for the natural man and women, our hearts need to be transformed. 00:09:35.319 --> 00:09:38.439 They need to be made over again. 00:09:38.439 --> 00:09:43.639 And the brilliant thing is that the message of the gospel, that's why it's good news. 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:48.600 Because Jesus has made it possible for us to change. 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:56.120 Every one of us, when we truly repent, when we genuinely grieve us for what we've done, 00:09:56.120 --> 00:10:06.639 rebelling against God, disobeying His word, when we genuinely repent and when we ask God 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:14.039 for mercy, for forgiveness, and we receive and accept that by faith, then He changes 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:15.039 us. 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.199 He gives us a new heart. 00:10:17.199 --> 00:10:19.559 He gives us a new life. 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:28.600 And there is a new center of gravity to everything we are and everything we do because our lives 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:34.720 become centered on Jesus and not on our sails. 00:10:34.720 --> 00:10:43.759 And in our hearts, the motive for doing what we do has changed. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:51.320 We will behave as those who want to obey, who want to please, who want to honor our Savior, 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:52.960 Jesus Christ. 00:10:52.960 --> 00:11:00.200 We will not behave as those who think that what we want is all important. 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:07.840 So we mustn't ever forget that before God, the test by which all our conduct will finally 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:11.200 be judged is motive. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:13.000 Why do we do what we do? 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:20.280 And of course, in this, as in so many other things, the Pharisees afford us a very clear 00:11:20.280 --> 00:11:23.840 example, don't they? 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:35.720 They remain the world's most dismal religious failures, not because doctrinally they were 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:44.920 in error, not because they were lukewarm and casual, not because they lived dissolute or 00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:47.399 decadent lives. 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:50.480 They're problem-lay and the motives are what they did. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:54.560 Yet they prayed, but they prayed to be seen as men. 00:11:54.560 --> 00:11:59.840 They gave generously, very often, to the temple funds. 00:11:59.840 --> 00:12:06.720 But it was, as Jesus rebuked them, it was to avoid their duty to their family and their 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.720 parents. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:13.560 And of course, they judged sin, but they judged it in others. 00:12:13.560 --> 00:12:18.080 And they did that self-righteously and with hard hearts. 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:27.360 So how do we avoid this problem as Christians, as we live and the years go by, that we don't 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:34.759 fall into the trap of thinking that outward behavior is, as long as that's okay, we're 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.920 okay? 00:12:35.920 --> 00:12:47.480 Well, I think we make sure that we understand the importance of what the wise man said in 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:54.639 the book of Proverbs, when he said, guard your hearts with all diligence, for out of 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:59.279 it are the issues of life. 00:12:59.279 --> 00:13:06.680 And we need to go again and again, day by day, to the cross, seeing our Savior Jesus 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:13.920 and remembering what He did, what it cost, and what it meant, as Cory was explaining 00:13:13.920 --> 00:13:16.480 to the boys and girls. 00:13:16.480 --> 00:13:25.399 And then it would probably do us good every so often to go to Paul's letter to the Christians 00:13:25.399 --> 00:13:32.560 at Corinth and to that 13th chapter of his first letter. 00:13:32.560 --> 00:13:37.000 You know where he talks about love, God's love, the love that we should exhibit. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:40.800 And he says, love suffers long and is kind. 00:13:40.800 --> 00:13:43.120 Love does not envy or boast. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:45.320 It's not arrogant or rude. 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:49.240 Love does not insist on its own way. 00:13:49.240 --> 00:13:50.840 Love never fails. 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:54.840 Beautiful words, lovely words. 00:13:54.840 --> 00:14:03.720 But of course, Paul goes on to say that the very best, the very highest religious behavior 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:05.600 counts for nothing with God. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:11.360 It's futile if it's not motivated by love. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:17.399 So when we are converted, when we have the new life of God in our soul, we have the love 00:14:17.399 --> 00:14:20.120 of God shed abroad in our hearts. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:28.360 We must constantly nourish and feed it by reading the word of God and bathing it in 00:14:28.360 --> 00:14:32.879 prayer, remembering, spirit of life is not mechanical. 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:38.279 Yes, we know justification was an act. 00:14:38.279 --> 00:14:44.120 But our spiritual life, our ongoing life with God is organic. 00:14:44.120 --> 00:14:49.799 Just as a flower can blossom and flourish, so it can wither and decay. 00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:52.639 And so it is with our spiritual life. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:15:00.199 We need to constantly nourish and feed it and value it, our inner life, above all other 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:09.759 things so that our desires and affections, our speech, our conduct all flow almost automatically 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.000 from hearts of love. 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.280 It just comes out. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:16.280 It's an instinct. 00:15:16.280 --> 00:15:22.280 There's a phrase that's come to be used a lot recently where people talk about a default 00:15:22.280 --> 00:15:23.280 position. 00:15:23.279 --> 00:15:31.240 And I think they mean that when somebody is suddenly faced with a crisis or a choice or 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:39.159 need to do something, they fall back into the position that's comfortable. 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:41.480 It's instinctive to them. 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:46.879 And when I was trying to think of an example of this, the only one I could think of, if 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:54.399 you'll forgive a person, was when I was young, small at school. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:16:01.559 My mother would too often probably come in at, you know, who walked a mud over the kitchen 00:16:01.559 --> 00:16:02.559 floor? 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.159 You know, who broke the cup in the kitchen? 00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:09.200 You know, who left that wet tile in the bath? 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.799 And I would instantly say it was Michael. 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.039 He was my younger brother. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:20.679 And I wasn't a Christian then, you know, I'm just saying. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:22.399 But it was an instinct. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:30.919 Now for us as Christians, our instinct, amongst all the other things, ought to be when we 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:39.000 see someone in need, whatever the circumstances, to be to reach out and to help them. 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:48.279 Because our hearts, you know, we ought to be having within us that tender, loving spirit 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:53.519 that takes the heart, the misery we see in other people. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:17:03.080 You know, people who are in pain, they're in grief, they're anxious, they're in distress, 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:06.640 broken heart, whatever. 00:17:06.640 --> 00:17:15.320 Our automatic reaction ought to be as Christians, just to reach out and to help. 00:17:15.320 --> 00:17:22.240 And you know, as always, it's Jesus to whom we look when we want to know, what will that 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.920 look like in practice? 00:17:24.920 --> 00:17:27.280 What will that be like for me day by day? 00:17:27.280 --> 00:17:33.600 Well, there's at least two main ways. 00:17:33.600 --> 00:17:34.920 We will be merciful. 00:17:34.920 --> 00:17:40.320 We will be showing mercy when we show forgiveness. 00:17:40.320 --> 00:17:44.920 And we'll be showing mercy when we show compassion. 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.720 A.W. 00:17:46.720 --> 00:17:53.759 Toesher, the American author, wrote, When we children of God leave the shadows of earth 00:17:53.759 --> 00:18:01.640 and reach at last our home in the light, we shall have a thousand strings to our hearts. 00:18:01.640 --> 00:18:10.360 But the sweetest may well be the one thing tuned to sound forth the mercy of God. 00:18:10.360 --> 00:18:16.200 For it is because of God's mercy alone that we shall be there. 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:18.560 And that's right. 00:18:18.560 --> 00:18:20.480 We know that, don't we? 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:28.160 It's because of God's mercy alone that we will be in heaven. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:35.120 And it's by His mercy and grace that we enjoy spiritual blessings here on earth. 00:18:35.120 --> 00:18:42.480 And we're assured of an eternity of spiritual blessings in heaven. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:52.880 Because on the cross at Calvary, Jesus procured forgiveness for us, forgiveness for our sin, 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:58.200 so that we are justified before our heavenly Father. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:19:06.800 So He has shown us forgiveness, and now He asks us to show forgiveness in turn. 00:19:06.800 --> 00:19:08.680 But it isn't easy. 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:10.560 It isn't easy. 00:19:10.560 --> 00:19:17.280 Even though we all realize that forgiveness is at the very root, the very foundation of 00:19:17.280 --> 00:19:22.760 our faith and our life with God, it's hard to forgive sometimes. 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:27.879 Because it conflicts with our sense of justice. 00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:33.839 Derek dealt with that a few Sunday mornings ago when he was preaching about anger. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:39.599 And if I could use an illustration, if you're ever fortunate enough to go to that area of 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:47.759 outstanding natural beauty, the Glens of Antrim, and there's an amazing walk down Glen Arif 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:54.920 from the Glenhead right down to the sea along the side of the river, and you pass the waterfalls. 00:19:54.920 --> 00:20:01.879 And about halfway down, they have built a little viewing hut out over the river. 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:08.119 You go right over the river, so you're standing over the river, and you're looking back up 00:20:08.119 --> 00:20:12.319 at the waterfalls and the river coming down. 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.319 It's amazing. 00:20:13.319 --> 00:20:18.359 I think the Americans copied it at Niagara Falls, somebody told me. 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:20.639 But anyway, it's this amazing sight. 00:20:20.639 --> 00:20:22.119 But here's the thing. 00:20:22.119 --> 00:20:26.439 There are four panes of glass as you look back up. 00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:33.480 There's one that's clear and one that's red, one that's blue and one that's yellow. 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:39.399 And although as you look through there, you see the same scene. 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:42.960 It looks unbelievably different. 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:48.120 It takes a moment or two to grasp that I'm looking at the same thing that I looked a 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:53.880 moment ago before that other window, through that other window. 00:20:53.880 --> 00:21:00.440 And if it's not irreverent to say, God is like that when he looks on us. 00:21:00.440 --> 00:21:08.120 The humanity, the men and women that he made in his own image, he looks down and he sees 00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:09.120 the sin. 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:17.919 He sees our rebellion, our selfishness, our cruelty, our unbelief, how we disobey his 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:30.839 word, we blasphemous name, we profane his day, and justice, his justice requires payment. 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:35.159 And Jesus did that on the cross at Calvary for you, for me. 00:21:35.159 --> 00:21:36.639 He did that. 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:43.560 So God's justice was confirmed. 00:21:43.560 --> 00:21:52.560 But he also looks down and he sees us in our sin, in our misery, how we hurt each other. 00:21:52.560 --> 00:21:58.000 But we're lost, we're fallen, we're not happy. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:04.680 And so because he is a God of love, he offers a new life in Jesus Christ. 00:22:04.680 --> 00:22:09.640 And again, at the cross, Jesus provides that for us. 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:17.759 So if you're a Christian this evening, and I think this is important, God has dealt with 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:22.759 justice on your behalf, on your account. 00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:29.519 And every other human being that has lived or will lived, God will deal with them. 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:31.560 His justice will take care of them. 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:34.200 You and I do not need to worry about it. 00:22:34.200 --> 00:22:38.240 Some will go to Christ and some will not. 00:22:38.240 --> 00:22:43.600 They will pay for their own sins, the ones who don't. 00:22:43.600 --> 00:22:46.480 But God's justice is dealt with. 00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:55.200 But the forgiveness, the forgiveness lives on, because God has not only forgiven us, 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:58.680 but he wants us to forgive others. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:06.039 In 1987, in Innes-Gillan County, Firmana, the IRA exploded a bomb at a Remembrance Day 00:23:06.039 --> 00:23:11.720 service that killed 12 people and injured many others. 00:23:11.720 --> 00:23:17.960 One of those who died was a 20-year-old nurse, Mary Wilson, who was attending the service 00:23:17.960 --> 00:23:20.720 with her father. 00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:28.640 Just a day after she died at the War Memorial, Gordon Wilson was interviewed in his home. 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:34.240 Hospital bed where he was recovering from severe injuries. 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:38.600 And he was asked about his feelings for the killers. 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:44.960 And this is what he said, I burl will will, I burl grudge. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:48.880 Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. 00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:53.520 Mary, she's in heaven and we shall meet again. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:58.799 I will pray for these men tonight and every night. 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:07.279 Gordon Wilson was a Christian and he forgave the men who killed his daughter. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:15.839 Contrast that with, I know it's a fictional thing, but Rabbie Burns poem, Tam Ashanter, 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:22.200 you remember when Tam is out carousing with his drinking pal, Souter Johnny, and Rabbie 00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:29.279 Burns paints the picture of Tam's wife at home by the hearth, nursing her wrath to keep 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:32.720 it warm. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:37.039 The two different approaches to forgiveness. 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:38.920 Do we forgive or do we not? 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:46.680 Look, men and women, there are things in the Bible that are difficult for all of us, you 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:49.720 know, and to get our heads around. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:53.360 But this is not one of them. 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:58.079 You either forgive or you do not forgive. 00:24:58.079 --> 00:25:07.000 You either imitate our Savior and Lord by forgiving and you enjoy His daily blessings, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:14.839 or you do not forgive and you harbor and you carry baggage, resentment, bitterness into 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:19.480 all the days of your life going forward. 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:26.160 The famous officer man, C.S. Lewis, wrote on one occasion, to be a Christian means to 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:37.400 forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you. 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.640 That's it. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:47.880 And how many places of work, how many communities, how many homes would be better, happier, more 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:55.720 pleasant places if grudges and resentments and feuds and differences were all put away. 00:25:55.720 --> 00:26:03.000 And please do not bring confusion into this matter of forgiveness. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:09.480 You know, don't bring other people into this and say, but, you know, she hasn't said, sorry, 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:12.120 he hasn't made restitution. 00:26:12.120 --> 00:26:14.680 They're still carrying on with it. 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:18.000 Just forget about that. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:23.440 You know, you're not responsible for other people's actions. 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:31.000 You and I, we cannot make other people behave rightly, but we can. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:38.279 We must follow the example of our Savior when He forgave. 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:44.400 On the cross, He asked His heavenly Father, those accusers, those detractors, the people 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:49.680 who crucified Him, He asked for forgiveness for them. 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:58.320 If we're serious and if we have that tender, spirit-filled heart of love, we will learn 00:26:58.320 --> 00:27:04.720 to forgive and then we will be merciful when we show compassion. 00:27:04.720 --> 00:27:07.200 Yet again, Jesus is our teacher. 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:15.039 Remember the times in the Gospels when it records great multitudes came out to Him and 00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:19.880 He taught them and He healed them and He fed them sometimes. 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:26.080 And the Gospel writers read, because He had compassion on them because they were like 00:27:26.080 --> 00:27:27.920 sheep without a shepherd. 00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:31.519 His heart went out to them and there were individuals as well. 00:27:31.519 --> 00:27:38.240 Remember the leper comes to Him and Jesus had compassion on them, Mark says, and heals 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:39.240 them. 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:45.799 The widow whose only son had died and said he had compassion on her. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:49.559 And He brought the boy back to life. 00:27:49.559 --> 00:27:51.599 And of course the stories that He told. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:59.000 Remember the prodigal son, the young man's coming back to his father, broken. 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:04.000 And it says, the father had compassion on them and ran to meet him. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:09.640 And then this story of the Good Samaritan that we read. 00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:13.839 And again, that man acted out of compassion. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:19.160 If we could think about that just for a moment or two. 00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:25.480 That story was told in response to a very profound question. 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:30.319 The lawyer said, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:33.599 And this was Jesus' story, referring Him to the law. 00:28:33.599 --> 00:28:41.079 And then when He quizzes Him again, telling Him this story and then asking. 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:48.200 And the man has to admit at the end, the one showed mercy was the Samaritan. 00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:56.880 And Bishop J.C. Ryle, the famous Bishop of Liverpool, in his commentary on this parable 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:00.600 just puts it simply but brilliantly. 00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:08.120 He says, if these words of Jesus mean anything, what Jesus said, go and do likewise. 00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:14.559 A Christian ought to be ready to show kindness and brotherly love to everyone that is in 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.559 need. 00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:22.200 And just love all men and be kind to all whenever occasion requires. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:25.319 And he's exactly correct. 00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:26.319 Whatever the servant. 00:29:26.319 --> 00:29:32.720 And there are folk in need that will be brought to your door at different times and in different 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.720 ways. 00:29:33.720 --> 00:29:40.679 And their needs should trigger within us, within each of us, the desire to help and 00:29:40.679 --> 00:29:42.279 to be compassionate. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:50.200 Because that story of the good Samaritan, it's not really a story of bad men who were 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:55.319 robbers and religious men who were busier. 00:29:55.319 --> 00:30:01.359 It's a story between two sets of people. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:06.399 The robbers, the priests, the Levi, selfish. 00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:08.200 Selfish. 00:30:08.200 --> 00:30:16.600 Number one, the Samaritan, selfless, reaching out in compassion to that man. 00:30:16.600 --> 00:30:20.120 And remember, many folk are willing to help others. 00:30:20.120 --> 00:30:21.840 We see it day and day late. 00:30:21.840 --> 00:30:22.960 We know that. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:27.799 But they stop short of where we as Christians ought to go. 00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:32.120 They'll help if it's convenient. 00:30:32.120 --> 00:30:35.160 It doesn't require too much of a commitment. 00:30:35.160 --> 00:30:39.360 If it doesn't really interfere with their plans. 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:44.519 But Jesus says, we're not to be like them. 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:50.519 We are to show love, compassion, help in every circumstance. 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:54.519 Now, very quickly, what that will look like practically. 00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:57.960 Again, look to Jesus. 00:30:57.960 --> 00:30:58.960 What did he do? 00:30:58.960 --> 00:31:00.560 What did Jesus do? 00:31:00.560 --> 00:31:03.400 Jesus took your place. 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:08.320 He took my place on the cross. 00:31:08.320 --> 00:31:15.000 When we see someone in need, let's just ask ourselves, if I was in that man's situation, 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.000 what would I want? 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:24.759 Or if I was in that woman's position, what sort of help would I be looking for? 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:29.280 And then we will know what we should do. 00:31:29.279 --> 00:31:37.920 So see it, Virgin, and I say this because I find it irritating. 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.839 I don't know about anybody else. 00:31:39.839 --> 00:31:42.519 But of course, I'm forgiving. 00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:48.000 But I find it irritating when people do good things, but they want you to know they're 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:49.000 doing good things. 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:51.399 And you can see it on their face. 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:54.160 This is costing me a lot to do this. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:56.279 I hope everybody realizes that. 00:31:56.279 --> 00:31:59.720 This is what, you know, don't be like that. 00:31:59.720 --> 00:32:02.599 Do what you do, Joyful. 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:05.160 Help people with a smile. 00:32:05.160 --> 00:32:06.359 See it, Virgin. 00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:12.160 He was lecturing students for the ministry, men who were going to become ministers. 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:22.279 And he said, I love the sort of minister whose face invites you to be his friend. 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:30.119 The sort on whose face is written the word welcome, not beware of the dog. 00:32:30.119 --> 00:32:32.639 So let's show forgiveness. 00:32:32.639 --> 00:32:35.039 Let's show compassion. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:38.359 Let's be merciful in that way. 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:45.799 And each morning as we rise to begin a new day of grace, remember, our God is a God of 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:47.639 mercy. 00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:56.360 Our Savior is the Lord of mercy and the Holy Spirit longs to work mercy and compassion 00:32:56.360 --> 00:32:57.360 in our souls. 00:32:57.360 --> 00:33:05.640 And as we remember that, let's pray that we have large hearts, tender hearts, loving hearts, 00:33:05.640 --> 00:33:14.480 so that we can go forth into however many days the Lord has planned out for each of us 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:23.039 to help were and when and whoever we can, because we will never be more like Christ 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:25.400 than when we show mercy. 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:31.000 And we will also bring glory to His name when we do. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:34.319 Let's pray for a moment. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:38.640 Grace is God, we thank you that you are a God of mercy. 00:33:38.640 --> 00:33:49.920 And in mercy, you have saved us and in mercy, you day by day bless us with innumerable blessings. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:57.360 So Lord, we come to you now and we just pray for the help of your Holy Spirit that you 00:33:57.360 --> 00:34:07.120 would help us to love the Lord and serve the people, to love the people and serve the Lord. 00:34:07.119 --> 00:34:09.239 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:38.239 Amen.